Athletes are constantly pushing the limits of human ability. At the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from July 15 to 24, the limits were stretched again, as three world records were broken.
American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin poses next to her record-setting time at the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, U.S., July 22, 2022. /CFP
Date: July 22, 2022
Event: Women's 400m hurdles
New world record: 50.68 seconds
American Sydney McLaughlin, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in both the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay event, reset the world record in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 50.68 seconds.
She lowered her own record from 52.16 to 50.68 in the space of 13 months.
"The sky's the limit, for sure," she said after the race. "I need to ask my coach about our next goal. He calls the shots."
"Whenever I got frustrated," she said, "I'd go to practice and run it out. Get the stress out on the track. I make it look easier than it is. People don't see the struggle."
"For the past couple of years, McLaughlin has lifted herself to a different level. She has repeatedly smashed the world record to smithereens, rendering her rivals – none of them slouches – into background noise as she pushes the boundaries of what seems possible in her profession," New York Times editor Scott Cacciola wrote in a piece published on July 22, 2022.
Armand Duplantis of Sweden poses next to a sign displaying his record-setting pole vault jump during the World Athletics Championships, July 24, 2022. /CFP
Date: July 24, 2022
Event: Men's pole vault
New world record: 6.21 meters
Swedish Armand Duplantis, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, smashed his own record in the pole vault event after sailing with ease over 6.21m.
"It is great!" said Duplantis, as he bettered his own mark by one centimeter, which he set during the World Indoor Championships in Serbia's capital Belgrade in March. It marked the third time this year that Duplantis has set a world record and his fifth record-setting jump overall.
"I was really focused on the win and I really wanted to win the gold so badly. It was the medal I was missing," he said.
Tobi Amusan of Nigeria poses next to her record-setting time at the World Athletics Championships, July 24, 2022. /CFP
Date: July 24, 2022
Event: Women's 100m hurdles
New world record: 12.12 seconds
Nigerian Tobi Amusan rocketed to a new world record of 12.12 seconds in Heat 1 of the women's 100m hurdles semifinals.
Later, Amusan continued her triumph in the event and bagged the gold medal in 12.06 seconds. However, her time did not qualify as a new world record because of the tailwind during the race, which cannot exceed 2m/s.
"The goal was to come out and to win this gold. I just did it," said Amusan. "I believe in my abilities, but I was not expecting a world record at these championships."
Team China at World Athletics Championships
The Chinese delegation was comprised of 53 athletes (23 male and 30 female athletes) competing in 23 events.
Designed by CGTN's Xing Cheng
Designed by CGTN's Xing Cheng
Designed by CGTN's Xing Cheng
Designed by CGTN's Xing Cheng
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